RV trips take a little more planning than traditional vacations. With that it’s important to prepare so nothing gets in the way of the best trip possible. One way to do this is by downloading some great apps to help make your travels more efficient and enjoyable.
After all, there are so many things that can go wrong on an RV trip – from navigation issues (thanks Google Maps!) to finding camping spots or filling up with gas. Luckily, these days there are some awesome free and paid apps available for everything an RVer needs! These apps allow you to plan your route, find campgrounds and find gas stations with the lowest price. They can even navigate without the use of a map or GPS system. In this blog post, I will share my top 18 favorite free and paid apps for RV travelers! Let’s take a look at some of the best apps on the market now…
Must Have Apps For RV Trip Planning
With so many apps to choose from, it can be hard to determine which ones are right for you. While you don’t want to overload yourself with too many RV travel app options it is a good idea to get a few to help keep your trip in order. Like GasBuddy for finding the lowest gas prices to help you save some cash, Campendium for a one-stop shop on all your campground needs. Then there are fun ones like iExit for leisurely RVers that want to take the scenic route to their main destination.
Outdoorsy, RV Rental Platform
Gone are the days you have to own an RV to go on an RV trip. We’ve been on over a dozen and each time we rent! We’ve always used Outdoosy, they’re a peer-to-peer rental site, think Airbnb or VRBO. Here you can choose from multiple options like Class A, B, or C motorhomes, 5th wheels, Airstreams, and campers. You can sign up here and save $50 on your first rental. Another options is RVshare.
Best Gas App For RV Trip Planning
Fuel costs are often the number one factor in your RV travel budget. There are many brand-specific fuel apps, like Murphy’s* and Shell that are all highly rated and have brand-specific rewards or discounts at the pump. But, if you prefer to have a wider selection of nearby gas stations the must-have, go to, of all fuel apps is the GasBuddy app. It features a free, convenient and easy-to-use Fuel Finder that helps you find the best gas prices in your area. We’ll cover the app below.
GasBuddy is considered one of the best RV apps for the cost-conscious traveler. Gas tends to be more expensive when traveling with a motorhome or RV and who doesn’t love the idea of saving money on fuel when traveling. GasBuddy is a crowdsourced app that lets users know the current gas prices at over 150,000 stations in North America and allows you to confirm or update the price when you stop. One of the most important features, especially for RV drivers on the open road, is GasBuddy’s Fuel Availability Tracker. If there is no gas available at a station due to crisis situations or natural disasters this will be displayed on the map so you can plan to find another station.
*A special note for the Murphy Drive Rewards App: Although brand specific, there are over 1,100 Murphy Gas stations located in proximity to a Walmart. With the Murphy Drive Rewards card, you earn points for every purchase at a Murphy store, including gas purchases.
Every 100 points gives you $.10 off/gal; This app is great for RV travelers where fuel points add up quickly and the app offers coupons, drinks, and snack deals. Besides being a great addition to your collection of RV travel apps is that it has a Murphy store locator so it makes it easy to fill up and stay overnight at a Walmart parking lot.
RV GPS Apps for Steep Grades
Nothing can ruin a trip in your home away from home more than burning out your brakes, engine, or ultimately the whole RV going up in flames. Steep grades can really tax the mechanical aspects of your RV, up or down, and those conditions are compounded when you are pulling a tow vehicle.
Although not an actual RV travel app, it bears mentioning that The Mountain Directory provides vital information when you are traveling by RV. Divided into two books, East and West, it can be downloaded as an interactive map on your iPhone or android. The two directories give you access to over 700 mountain passes and steep grades: slope (%), length, number of lanes, sharp curves, switchbacks, speed limits, and escape ramps! With this information, you will know ahead of time what to expect or decide your best option may be to go around or plan a safer route.
Best Overall RV Trip Planner: RV Life Pro Suite
For the money, this one has it all, so it is our pick for the Best Overall RV App 2021
RV Life Pro Suite includes the RV Trip Wizard App and is an all-inclusive RV must-have for most anything RV-related. At the affordable annual subscription rate currently only $49.00/year, the RV Trip Wizard incorporates all of the campgrounds, regardless of affiliation. Since the subscription is part of the RV LIFE Pro Suite, you have access to the premium features of RV LIFE – RV Safe GPS app and Maintain My RV.
Best RV Travel Weather APP
MyRadar This app is amazing for planning out trips that can be affected by adverse weather. The high def radar and terrain not only shows moving fronts, storms, temperatures, NOAA weather alerts, and more, it also shows where there are wildfires, earthquakes, and offers a hurricane tracker. This app will help you determine if you need to leave a day earlier than expected, or to enjoy where you are for an extra day. Invaluable for RVer’s!
Best Free RV Overnight Parking App (plus bonus)
RV Parky can help you find overnight parking that not only includes RV parks, National parks, and BLM (Bureau of Land Management), it can also find Walmart’s and Camping World parking. The RVParky App offers a variety of map services that can be viewed offline so no data plan is needed. Built by a full-time RVer, community members provide reviews and listing updates so you know what’s what before you arrive!
Bonus
Headed to a specific destination and that over enthusiastic 4AM departure time got the best of you? Fortunately there are many retailers or merchants who are happy to host an overnight stay, especially in the more rural areas as some cities have ordinances or laws against overnight parking.
Many Walmart’s will allow RV travelers to park for free overnight at certain locations based on the store manager’s permission.
You’ll also find Bass Pro, Cabela’s, and Cracker Barrel inclined to host an overnight RV. Other places for RVs to try to park for the night include truck stops, Walgreens and McDonald’s
Best Free Boondocking RV Travel App
FreeRoam is our pick for Best Free RV Boondocking Travel App not only for the technical features but you can input your RV height and opt for trucking routes so you can ensure accessibility.
This app is designed with boondocking/free camping as the main focus and finds free campsites on public land, as well as a directory and user reviews for established campsites. Think TripAdvisor for camping, with the addition of an amazing interactive social aspect.
With a regard for respecting and sustaining the natural environment in all areas, due to camper interactions you can find new campsites that are not included in other directories like Campendium or FreeCampsites.
Best Paid Boondocking RV Travel App
Campers of all types rave about the Dyrt Pro, camping for trailers and RVs (tenting and cabins) as the Best Paid Boondocking RV Travel App for only $35.99/year. This RV travel app offers over 1 million reviews, plus photos, and over 1,000 campsites to choose from. The Dyrt Pro has custom travel planning for free and paid camping sites on public lands, private RV parks, county parks, military parks, National parks, and more.Besides the Trip Planner, you can search maps offline, get campground discounts, and even discounts on camp gear.
Best Unique RV Travel App
HipCamp the Airbnb of camping Apps for RV sites and other camping styles! Touted as best for unique outdoor stays, HipCamp partners with private landowners to provide one-of-a kind campsite experiences.. As an RV booking app, you have the ability to search for RV parks “near me” or you can find yourself booking at over 300,000 campgrounds, ranches, vineyards, farms, and more. HipCamp covers the US, Canada, and Australia.
Best Paid RV App For Trip Planning/Navigation
Togo RV Plus for $$39.99/year with customized RV GPS Navigation, upgraded road trip planning, camping discounts, several more perks and access to OvernightRVParking.com (a $29,99 value) for boondocking locations, plus all the features included in the free RV planning app! (RV Maintenance alerts, service centers, mobile repairs, tires discounts, and more) But the biggest value of all is the yearly fee which also covers the cost of premium trip planning with Roadtrippers Plus. (Also a $29.99 value)
Best Free RV App for Trip Planning
RoadTrippers: This app is free and offers a variety of options for RV routes including road trips, scenic drives or guided tours. With the ability to plot up to 5 stops in the free version, you can easily plan your route to include amazing detours and captivating locales on the way. It also has reviews from other travelers so you can get a feel if one of these hidden treasure spots are a worthwhile venture for you. You can plan your trip online then sync to the Roadtrippers RV navigation app on your phone with turn by turn navigation.
Best RV Campsite Listing App
Campendium’s RV Parks listings are created by campers for campers and are updated daily and includes reservation information for these campgrounds. Campendium list park amenities such as restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. It also provides maps of each park so travelers can see where they’ll be staying before hooking up. This app also provides information for dump stations if you’re boondocking so major bonus! With over 350,000 members, the reviews offer valuable insight into how enjoyable and well-maintained the parks are too!
Best Free RV Apps For Things You Didn’t Think About
Digital TV Antennas to orient your TV antenna in your RV to get the best TV reception when you’re camping. This works to help you find the closest digital TV towers so you can point your antenna to receive the over-the-air digital broadcasting signal.
iExit USA: This is an awesome app for interstate travel when you want to know what business or service is available on the exits ahead. The GPS in the app will automatically find you, and in conjunction with Opis, Yelp, and Travel Coupons, will provide you realtime information for food, lodging, and gas stations along your route!
Wifi Finder-Free Wifi Map so you can find WiFi when you are on the road. There is an offline function so you can download places you are going to locate up-to-date public hotspots. These verified Hotspots will have the speed and the type of venue. Way Cool.
Key Ring is an organizational app for your membership and loyalty cards. You can have everything you need all in one place, no more digging for a loyalty card. The app also offers savings with coupons, stores’ weekly ads, and nearby deals. There is a shopping list and the ability to keep track of your purchases, all in one app.
Best RV Checklist App
Ultimate RV Checklist App is a great help for people who are just starting out in the RV realm or even the trail blazer traveler. There are different RV type checklists available that you can add to, or customize yourself. If you happen to be an old hand at the whole thing, but want a little security in those times of distractions or stress, you can build a custom RV checklist to follow your routine. Never hurts to have that once over reminder to make sure you’re set to go!
Best RV Navigation App for European Ventures (Just in Case)
Best Rv Apps For Navigation in Europe Navmii is one of the largest navigation providers in Europe with over 25 million users worldwide! This app has an offline function so it’s perfect if you’re traveling abroad without data service or wifi to keep up on any new traffic updates. The user interface is really intuitive but also allows for more advanced functions like lane assistant which lets you know when there are exits coming up based on your route direction and speed limit calculator which calculates how many miles per hour you need to travel to get the most out of your tank and save on fuel.
Whether you are new to RV traveling or a seasoned traveler, free RV apps are a must-have for your travels.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. Planning an RV trip doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right planning, you can save money and enjoy your time on the open road. If you don’t want to plan it yourself or use a free app, or there are also plenty of paid apps that do all the heavy lifting for you! There are many ways to make traveling with an RV easier and more enjoyable, so take some time to explore the app options mentioned in this article before your next trip! If you know of any other good resources for travelers or have an idea for another blog post topic we should cover, please comment below.
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